Articles tagged with Whales
A decade-long analysis of necropsies reveals that killer whales are vulnerable to multiple human-caused deaths, affecting all age classes. The study underscores the need for improved conservation strategies and mitigation efforts to protect these endangered species.
A new co-governance model aims to save species such as salmon and southern resident killer whales from extinction through a $381 million conservation plan. The study highlights the importance of urban biodiversity conservation and investment in strategies like habitat restoration and public land management.
After being wiped out by whaling, blue whales have made a comeback to South Georgia, with 58 sightings reported in a 2020 survey and numerous acoustic detections. The discovery is key evidence in learning how the species is recovering following a ban on commercial whaling.
A new study from the New England Aquarium improves species distribution models for predicting whale habitats by incorporating food availability, such as zooplankton. The prey-centric model suggests that protections are needed in areas where whales are currently found and may be migrating to due to climate change.
New research suggests fin whales sing multiple different songs, which may be picked up by migrating individuals and spread to different parts of the ocean. This complex behavior provides new insights into how fin whale populations move and change over time.
Researchers discovered that whale-surfing remoras use the cushion of slow-moving water carried by whales to stay attached. The fish can move along the whale's body and even skim across locations without being torn free.
Researchers captured the first ocean recordings of remoras hitchhiking on blue whales, revealing their refined skillset for navigating intense hydrodynamics. The study shows remoras select optimal regions, such as behind the blowhole, to reduce drag resistance and freely move around to feed and socialize.
Researchers at Stanford University have identified patterns in blue whale songs that indicate migration from feeding grounds to breeding grounds. The study uses advanced recording technologies to analyze whale song wavelengths, revealing a distinct change over several months.
Researchers found that blue whales sing mainly at night during the summer feeding season, but switch to daytime singing when preparing to migrate. This discovery may explain inconsistencies in whale song patterns.
Researchers found vessel traffic and whale vocalizations contribute to ambient sound, with fluctuations by month and seasonal peaks. The study establishes a baseline for understanding the impact of human-made noise on the sanctuary's ecosystem.
A new international study led by Stony Brook University explores the role of climate change and tectonics in shaping mammalian evolution in East Africa. The research team will investigate ancient climate and habitats through fossil analysis and modeling studies, shedding light on the emergence of humans and their primate ancestors.
Researchers deployed 23 tags to track Cuvier's beaked whale dives, recording over 3600 foraging dives with some lasting up to 2 hours and 13 minutes. The whales' ability to exceed predicted diving limits suggests an exceptional low metabolism and larger oxygen stores.
Female whale sharks grow more slowly than males but eventually surpass them to reach an average adult length of 14 metres. The study found that only one pregnant whale shark had produced 300 young, highlighting the benefits of large size for female whales.
A study reveals genetic similarities between New Guinea highland wild dogs and captive NGSDs, suggesting a shared ancestry. The discovery could help bolster NGSD populations through conservation efforts.
A study by Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute found high concentrations of atrazine, DEP, NPE, and triclosan in stranded dolphins and whales. The study revealed significant variations in toxin and element concentrations based on animal demographic factors and geography.
Researchers measured pollutants in stranded dolphins and whales to understand their impact on ocean life. The study found high levels of mercury and arsenic in some species, highlighting the need for marine mammal stranding response efforts.
Researchers found significantly less microbial diversity and richness in humpback whales' respiratory microbiota during the return leg of their migration, suggesting they were likely in poorer health. This study provides new insights into using airway microbiota as a non-invasive method for monitoring whale health.
The study revealed the Mediterranean sperm whale's widespread presence in the north-western Mediterranean Sea and identified a possible hotspot for habitat in the Gulf of Lion. Continuous day and night monitoring during winter months suggests different foraging strategies between areas.
Researchers tracked baleen whale movements using passive acoustic recordings, finding four species have changed their distribution patterns in the past decade. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than other regions, resulting in changes in distribution for five out of six baleen whale species.
A study of beluga whale social behavior reveals that they form complex societies with multiple group types and dynamic membership. Like humans, belugas exhibit a wide range of grouping patterns and have long-term affiliations with unrelated individuals, indicating the importance of kinship in their social structure.
A nearly complete skeleton of an extinct large dolphin found in South Carolina reveals that this species was a top predator in its community. The findings suggest that modern baleen and toothed whales evolved similar features independently, driven by parallel evolution in the same aquatic habitats.
A study of thalattosuchians' inner ear morphology reveals a strikingly compact and reduced bony labyrinth reminiscent of whales. The evolutionary transition from land to water occurred after a prolonged semiaquatic phase, distinct from whales' rapid adaptation.
Researchers from Aarhus University found that boat engines can disturb humpback whales, causing them to change behavior and reducing their resting time. The team recommends a 150 dB noise emission standard to minimize disturbance, ensuring whales receive some peace and quiet.
Researchers found that changes in ocean temperature and krill abundance affect the whales' feeding grounds, with cooler waters providing nutrient-rich areas. Understanding these relationships can help reduce threats to New Zealand blue whales from climate change and human impacts.
A new study suggests that operating with fewer traps and a shorter season in the US lobster fishery may be more profitable for fishermen while also protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales. The research found that Massachusetts fishers have caught more lobster since implementing a three-month fishing closure, while Maine's lob...
Researchers found most southern right whales visiting South Georgia breed in South America, contrary to previous suspicion. This discovery will help track population recovery and inform conservation strategies.
A new study found that humpback whales are at risk of collision with vessels in the Magellan Strait, with some individuals encountering ships up to 18 times per season. The researchers propose speed limits and mandatory observers on commercial vessels to reduce the risk of injury or death.
A study finds that ecotourism has positively transformed people's attitudes towards whale sharks and marine conservation in the Philippines. Locals who work for tour operators report a stronger emotional connection to the species and increased willingness to protect them, leading to more sustainable fishing practices.
Researchers monitor 171 Oregon gray whales using drones and find a compelling relationship between whales' body condition and changing ocean conditions. The study suggests that changes in ocean conditions may be causing skinny whales, with poor upwelling limiting prey availability.
A recent study found that North Atlantic right whales are in poorer body condition than Southern right whales, likely due to vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and changes in food supply. This decline affects the species' reproduction, growth, and survival.
Research reveals North Atlantic right whales are in poorer body condition than Southern right whales, affecting reproduction and growth rates. The study suggests lethal vessel strikes, entanglement, and food scarcity contribute to their decline.
Researchers found that New Zealand blue whales forage more in areas with dense and shallow krill patches. The study also revealed the importance of drone footage in understanding surface feeding behavior, providing insights into decision-making processes and prey response.
Scientists have correctly determined the age of whale sharks using radioactive legacy of Cold War nuclear bomb tests. The discovery will help ensure the survival of the endangered species by accurately estimating its growth rate.
A Rutgers-led study uses radioactivity from nuclear explosions to estimate whale shark ages, revealing the oldest known individuals at around 50 years old. This research provides crucial information for conservation strategies, as whale sharks are highly susceptible to human impacts such as ship strikes.
Researchers developed a model that can predict the propulsive efficiency of cetacean fins based on shape and kinematics, revealing fundamental interplay between circulatory forces and added mass forces. The findings could influence the design of fast, efficient, and highly maneuverable underwater robots.
Researchers found elevated concentrations of TPT in Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises, with the highest concentration being five times higher than reported in false killer whales. Biomagnification of TPT compounds has significant implications for local dolphin populations and human health.
Bowhead whales alter their behavior when killer whales are present, opting for areas with dense sea ice and shallow water near shorelines. This shift may come at the cost of reduced foraging opportunities in phytoplankton-rich open water.
A Curtin University-led study found that Ross Sea killer whales, also known as Type C, have a unique call repertoire comprising burst-pulse sounds and whistles to convey information about their environment. The research analyzed data from over 392 encounters with the species.
A study found that gray whales are 4.3 times more likely to strand during solar storms due to radio frequency noise disrupting their navigational sense. Researchers believe the noise overwhelms the whales' senses, preventing them from navigating altogether.
A new study found that gray whales are more likely to strand themselves on days with high sunspot counts, suggesting a disruption to their magnetoreceptive sensor. This suggests that solar storms may cause whales to become disoriented and lose their magnetic sense.
Scientists propose that whales migrate to low latitudes to molt, shedding their skin in a process similar to birds and mammals. This drives their long-distance migrations, which can be thousands of miles round trip, with significant impact on local ecosystems.
Researchers from NIST and Griffith University developed a new test that measures multiple hormones simultaneously, providing a more reliable marker of pregnancy. This technique improves the accuracy of hormone tests, enabling biologists to better understand whale populations and their environmental health.
Researchers analyzed data from 26 beaked whales using sensors that tracked their depths and sounds. The study found that the whales performed closely coordinated deep dives to forage using echolocation while limiting vocalizations at shallow depths to avoid killer whale attacks.
A year-round acoustic study in the northern Bering Sea recorded over 30,000 calls from whales, walruses, and seals, providing valuable insights into climate change's effects on these species. The study supports previous scientific knowledge with a finer-scale resolution, revealing consistent seasonal distribution and movement patterns.
Researchers analyzed genes expressed in bat cochleae to understand the origin and evolution of high-frequency hearing. They identified 34 genes involved in hearing or auditory perception with evidence for positive selection in echolocating species.
A new study found that record-breaking whale entanglements in the Pacific Northwest were triggered by a unique marine heatwave, known as the 'Blob', which altered fish populations and habitats. The research has led to the development of online tools to help fishermen avoid entanglement risks.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the 2014-2016 marine heat wave led to a significant increase in humpback whales becoming entangled in fishing gear, averaging 53 confirmed entanglements per year. The shift in whale feeding behavior due to ocean warming caused a greater overlap between whales and crab fishing gear.
Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science found that nearly one-fifth of Ningaloo whale sharks show major scarring or fin amputations. The number of injured animals has increased in recent years, with distinct scar patterns suggesting boat collisions as a primary cause.
Researchers have discovered a key to understanding the evolution of whales by analyzing the range of motion of their joints. By studying this range of motion, scientists can infer the feeding behaviors of extinct cetaceans, providing new insights into their diets and physiologies.
Researchers at Stanford University found that humpback whales use stealth and deception to capture fish, overcoming limitations in speed and maneuverability by timing their lunges. This innovative feeding strategy allows them to consume a large number of fish per feeding event, making it more energetically efficient than feeding on krill.
Researchers found that humpback whales use stealth to minimize escape responses of prey, allowing for simultaneous engulfment of up to 60% of anchovies. The study reveals how large filter feeding whales capture highly maneuverable forage fish using a predator-informed looming stimulus.
Killer whales prefer large, juicy Chinook salmon, leading to their decline due to overconsumption. The study found that resident orcas are likely the main driver behind the decline, as they increasingly target bigger fish.
Larger whales consume more prey and have higher energy efficiency due to their size. Filter-feeding whales, however, exhibit rapid increases in energy from food, potentially driving evolutionary pathways to gigantism.
A team of scientists found that whale body size is limited by the availability of their prey, with filter-feeding whales achieving the largest body sizes due to a high-energy payoff. Toothed whales, on the other hand, are limited by the energy spent chasing large prey in deep-sea environments.
A new species of fossil whale, Aegicetus gehennae, has been discovered, representing an intermediate stage between foot-powered and tail-powered swimming. The creature's body shape is similar to that of ancient whales like Basilosaurus.
The discovery of Aegicetus gehennae sheds light on the transition from foot-powered to tail-powered swimming in whales. The new genus and species is found to be more fully aquatic, with adaptations indicating a transitional stage between early and modern whale locomotion.
A study on killer whales found that grandmothers play a crucial role in improving the survival of their grandoffspring. The research suggests that postreproductive females can better provide care due to not having reproductive pressures, potentially contributing to the long lifespan of killer whales.
Post-menopausal killer whale grandmothers improve the chances of survival for their grand-calves, allowing them to focus time and resources on the latest generation. The study found that these grandmothers played a particularly important role in times of food scarcity, where salmon was scarce.
Researchers are using unique whale vocalizations to track the seasonal movements of North Atlantic killer whales, gaining insights into their behavior and ecology. By characterizing individual pods' calls, scientists can better understand their migration patterns and identify potential factors driving changes in their populations.
This study examines how penguin species in Antarctica respond to changes in krill availability due to human activities and climate change. The analysis of nitrogen stable isotope values reveals that gentoo penguins shift their diet towards fish and squid, while chinstrap penguins remain exclusive to krill.